By Nodley Wright, Freelance WriterCRENSTON BOXHILL yesterday confirmed what has been an open secret in the local football circles for some time, that he will be contesting the November 23 elections as a candidate for president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).
"Yes. It is definite that I will be contesting the elections for the position of president," said Boxhill, a JFF vice-president who now serves as president of the Clarendon Football Association (CFA).
With this move Boxhill accepts the challenge of the incumbent Horace Burrell who declared last month that anyone who was interested should throw their hat in the ring. Burrell has held the post since he completed the term of then president Heron Dale in 1994.
Boxhill's declaration also confirmed the election as a two-horse race.
There had been talk previously that a third candidate, Stewart Stephenson would have entered the fray. He has since opted out.
"Clarendon nominated me on Friday and I got confirmation of that. The nominations from the other two parishes will go in tomorrow (today)," added Boxhill.
WORKING ON MANIFESTO
Boxhill would not reveal his hand of his plans for the country's football choosing only to say that his team is working on the manifesto. Once this is ready Boxhill said, it will be made available to the public.
His decision to contest the election Boxhill said was a failure to change things from outside.
"There were a number of things which we were dissatisfied with in terms of how the football affairs were being run. We tried without much success to get the present administration to effect changes.
"From that we decided that the only way for change to take place is to have a change of administration. That way we can change things from inside," said the 50-year-old.
Boxhill has been involved in football since the mid 1970s when he managed Vere Technical football team. He also served on the management team at Santos Football Club before heading to Westmoreland where he co-founded Westland Football Club with John Bardowell and Owen Cunningham. Out of that club emerged the talents of former national caption Anthony "Baddas" Corbett, Everton Tomlinson and Dave Brooks.
Boxhill, who is also chairman of the South-Central Confederation which includes the parishes of St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth, has a unique distinction in the country's football.
"I am to this date the only person to be president of three parish associations. I was first the president of Westmoreland, then Manchester and now Clarendon," he said.
